College Procedure Number/Title:

• 63.01.01 Discrimination Complaint Procedures
• 63.01.02 Diversity -- see Administrative Procedure 61.10.01

Howard Community College concurs in the action of the Maryland Higher Education Commission in recognizing that sexual harassment seriously damages the integrity of the educational institution, destroys the institution's positive work and educational atmosphere, and causes psychological and physiological damage to the victim.  The college condemns such illegal activity and is strongly committed to promoting an educational and work environment free from sexual harassment of any form.  For the purpose of these guidelines, the college adopts the sexual harassment definition promulgated by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

It is a violation of this policy for any member of the college staff to harass a student or employee through conduct or communications of a sexual nature as defined below.  It is also a violation of this policy for students to harass other students through conduct or communications of a sexual nature as defined below or for students to harass staff.

Definitions

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other inappropriate oral, written or physical conduct of a sexual nature when made by a member of the college staff to a student or another employee or when made by a student to another student constitute sexual harassment when:

1. submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual's education or employment;
   
2. submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic or employment decisions affecting that individual; or
   
3. such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's academic, professional or employment performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive academic or employment environment.

Sexual harassment, as defined above, may include but is not limited to the following:

1. verbal harassment or abuse;
   
2. pressure for sexual activity;
   
3. repeated remarks to a person, with sexual or demeaning implications;
   
4. unwelcome touching;
   
5. suggesting or demeaning sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning one's grades, job, etc.

The president of the college will implement this policy and will establish procedures to handle complaints made under the provisions of this policy.  The procedures will provide:  1)  that the right to confidentiality, both of the complainant and of the accused, will be respected consistent with the college's legal obligations, and with the necessity to investigate allegations of misconduct and take corrective action when this conduct has occurred; 2)  that persons filing complaints of sexual harassment will be protected against reprisals, but that the deliberate filing of false accusations of sexual harassment will be condemned and may lead to possible disciplinary action.

A substantiated charge against an employee of the college will subject that employee to disciplinary action, which may include dismissal.

A substantiated charge against a student of the college will subject that student to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.